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The new public map Moon River Carnival was now open for every honored guest of Oletus Manor. Therefore, after a long day of matches, Alice and Frederick decided to explore it together after dinner.
The lights and vibes of the amusement park made Frederick feeling a little uneasy. He considered this kind of place suitable for children and teenagers, not for a grown man with 26 years of life like him, but seeing his partner running around like a five-year-old child somewhat mitigated his tension.
That was until Frederick realized that Alice had vanished, disappearing as quickly as smoke, just after he had paused looking around with mild interest. Now, he was slumped alone on the bench, panting with his head down, utterly exhausted from chasing after his lover. In his imagination, he was already scolding her.
When he found her again, he would pinch her cheek as punishment. Just you wait.
Just you wait, Ms. DeRoss!
“Mr. Kreiburg!” The cheerful voice drew his attention, Frederick snapped out of his thoughts. His gaze shifted toward the source of the voice.
He saw Alice approaching him with a basket filled with fish. The composer couldn't help but frown, silently questioning himself.
How was it possible for the fish to still be alive without water?
“Look what I got!” Alice’s eyes glittered with hope for his compliments. However, the first words that came out of his mouth were not what she expected at all.
Miss Journalist turned pale as Frederick rebuked her with a grumpy face. His tone was cold.
“Ms. DeRoss, where have you been? I’ve been chasing after you, you know that, right?”
“I… I’m sorry. I just got too excited.”
Alice, who had been about to tell her lover that she had not been far from him while she was merrily fishing, fell silent after seeing his sharp gaze. She lowered her head, looking down at the floor with guilt. If she was a puppy, Frederick would surely see her dog ears and tail drooping.
Unable to stay mad at his partner for so long, Frederick’s lips curved into a faint smile at the thought of Alice resembling a golden retriever. He spoke up gently.
“Look up at me, Ms. DeRoss”
“Hm?” A small sound escaped her lips as Alice looked up, momentarily confused. Frederick clarified his words.
“It’s not that serious. I was just worried about you. There’s no need to be this sad. That’s exactly what I don’t want you to feel.”
“Does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?” Alice’s face brightened as she looked at him. However, upon hearing her words, the composer’s expression shifted immediately. He let out a long sigh, wondering if she truly felt guilty.
“Of course, not. I’m still mad at you.”
“Please, Mr. Kreiburg. I’m really sorry, how can I make it up to you?”
Frederick fell silent for a moment, and Alice began to feel nervous. Things took a turn for the worse when he walked away, instructing her to wait there and not disappear. Alice wanted to ask what was happening, but decided to stay quiet. She didn’t want this date to turn awkward, and she wanted Frederick to enjoy himself. The thought of disappointing him by making him unhappy weighed heavily on her. However, Alice snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Frederick’s soft giggle. He had returned, holding a balloon from the nearby attraction.
“What is that for?”
Before Alice could ask anything further, Frederick had tied the balloon string around her. Her eyes widened as her body began to float in the air. She gasped and looked at him confused. The composer just smiled mischievously and said,
“You've made it up to me now. From now on I will carry you around like this.”